Who is... Femke Bol?

It was an athlete’s worst nightmare – and it happened at the World Championships. Last year, while anchoring the Dutch team in the mixed 4x400m relay, Femke Bol stumbled and fell within metres of the finish line while racing for victory. Even the most hard-nosed competitor would have felt sorry for Bol, who is beloved in the athletics world and runs with grace, effortlessness, and joy. It was with grace and apparent effortlessness that she made amends on Saturday. She picked up the baton in fourth place, some 15 metres behind the lead, and floated past her rivals to win Olympics gold for the Dutch team in the mixed relay. Then it was with utter joy that she celebrated and was celebrated by 70,000 fans in the Stade de France. Tonight the 24 year-old has a showdown with the world record-holder and Olympic champion, USA’s Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone, in the women’s 400m hurdles. A Bol victory would be one for the ages.